Pet owners warned of paralysis tick outbreak

Nearly 600 cases have been reported to Queensland vets in the past three months and 31 dogs and cats have died from paralysis ticks in that time.

Dr Margaret Reilly, from the James Cook University's Vet Centre, says the tick is traditionally a problem in rural areas but this season they have been detected in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and between Gladstone and Townsville.

"Be careful of areas where you've got compost and leaf litter and things like that, that's where they will reside and where the animals can potentially pick them up and brush past them," she said.

"There are intermediate hosts that are usually bandicoots and we know now possums are usually intermediate hosts as well."

Dr Reilly says it is important pet owners are extremely vigilant and take their dog or cat to a vet as soon as symptoms appear.

"They attach and over three or four days inject venom and they cause an ascending paralysis," she said.

"The animal may become a little bit wobbly in its hind legs and that progresses forwarded in their body until it affects primarily their muscles and breathing and primarily they can die from it."

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) says Queensland is in the grip of the worst paralysis tick season in history. Photo by clstal Flickr.com/ Creative Commons.)
(clstal - Flickr.com Creative Commons)